Pon Di Wire: Beenie Man, Bobby Konders, Mad Cobra

In the charts, the still-incarcerated Jah Cure tops BBC 1Xtra’s chart with “Sticky,” on Dangerzone’s popular Jamdown riddim, while Beenie Man’s “Back It Up” (357 Records) is number one. Surprisingly, newcomer Taurus Riley is in both UK and JA charts (at number three and number five, respectively), and meanwhile, chart-topping artists Mavado, Munga, Buju Banton, and newcomer Alborosie round out the rest of the top ten charts around the world.

The singer Doniki (born Donald Willis) will release his new album, Gully Bank, on the Ocho Rios, JA-based Kariang label. Of the album, Doniki commented to the Jamaican Observer, “Too much killing on di gully bank, innocent people, dupes, and generals. And it need to stop right away.”

Mad Cobra, performing in Zurich, Switzerland.

Wondering what happened to hardcore dancehall DJ Mad Cobra? Perhaps you missed his spring 2006, 30-song double album, Snypa Way. If you skipped that one, no worries: clips, freestyles, and performance updates are still being posted on his MySpace page.

Jamaica’s Hitz92 FM radio station broadcasts its Top Ten show every weekday at 1:25 p.m., and features reggae and dancehall programming, 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. daily.

Bahamian singjay Collie Buddz has just entered the US Billboard Reggae albums chart at number one with his self-titled debut album on Columbia. "Collie Buddz is being tapped by heavyweights like DJs Bobby Konders and Jabba as the next big Reggae star," MTV News reports.

Publicity graphic from last year's Uppsala Festival.

The 7th annual Uppsala Reggae Festival will take place August 9-11, 2007 in Uppsala, Sweden, 80 kilometers (that’s about 50 miles, you Americans) north of Stockholm. USF is the largest strictly-reggae festival in Scandinavia, and this year’s lineup includes Bunny Wailer, Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Capleton, Gentleman, Richie Spice, Natural Black, Lutan Fyah, Yellowman, and Earl Sixteen, among many, many others. Iration Steppers and other sounds will hold down DJ duties.

According to Hardbeat News, The Godfather of Jamaican deejays, Daddy U-Roy, was honored in New York at the famed Amazura reggae concert venue. On hand to perform and honor the DJ daddy were veterans Junior Demus, Charlie Chaplain, Rankin Joe, Sugar Minott, and Cornell Campbell.

One of the better semi-regular dancehall updates (in patois no less) is The Star’s Portmore Suss. Want to know the status of Beenie Man and D’Angel’s relationship? Why Area Code is the biggest sound system in Yard? What’s the latest clash between Bounty and Ninja? Miss Cherry delivers the news uncut fi di massive.

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